Sipping suggestions for your wedding reception

by guest writer Diana Valentine

A major component of  a wedding reception feast is certainly wine. However, wine is not the only beverage that would be required to please your guests and let them have a good time. Your reception all depends on how you treat your guests with food and drinks in tandem with your overall theme.

If you're wondering which champagnes and wines are best to serve during wedding receptions, you're not alone. Most couples want to find universally delicious wines to pour for their guests, and something to please them as well. You should consider both those wine savvy friends and your oaky-Chardonnay sipping mothers. And of course champagne will need to be poured; you practically can't celebrate without these days!

Here are a few basics that you'll need to know to get the perfect variety for wedding receptions. At most parties, approximately half of the guests will drink white wine, Chardonnay is the most popular, and slightly more will drink red wine. So you'll want to consider your guests. Are there more women? They are more often white wine drinkers, and more male guests mean more red wine. And for those same men, you might even consider having beer to serve as well. You'll also want to consider what food you are serving. If you're serving seafood, think beyond Chardonnay and look into a crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Both also pair nicely with cheese platters, spicy tapas, creamy pasta and chicken entrees. You might even look into a lovely dry Rosé to pour for guests. Not only is it a pretty shade of pink in your glass, but your wine expert friends will be impressed in your taste in wines. For red wines, Merlot and Cabernet are the most popular options for wedding receptions and both work perfectly with hearty red meats or pastas with robust red sauces. If you'd prefer something a bit lighter, look into an earthy Pinot Noir and you might even catch your new mother-in-law branching out and trying a glass.

Wine is great for wedding receptions as it brings an element of class to your celebration as it has been served to celebrate couples since marriage was invented! Many couples today even choose to have their wedding receptions at wineries. Picture an intimate ceremony in a sun-kissed vineyard with an elegant dinner served in a wine cave in Napa. Regardless of your location, don't overlook the importance of choosing wine for your wedding. And you should plan to have a bottle of red and a bottle of white on each table and about two glasses of Champagne per guest. Since wines can get a bit pricey, you might consider going to the winery to taste the wines first. They will often give you a case discount which can be gentler on your bank account. The more wine you pour, the more toasts you will receive to "a life of wedded bliss," cheers!

For more information on serving food and wine during your reception and to know more about wedding receptions, visit WeddingLocation.com